DAVIS v. PRO BASKETBALL

September 10, 1974

Bob Davis, Plaintiff,
v.
Pro Basketball, Inc., Defendant

MacMahon, District Judge

The opinion of the court was delivered by: MACMAHON

MACMAHON, DISTRICT JUDGE:

This is a diversity action for breach of contract. Defendant moves to dismiss the complaint for lack of subject matter jurisdiction, improper venue, and failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted, Rules 12(b) (1), (3) and (6), Fed. R. Civ. P., or, in the alternative, for an order staying this action pending arbitration. Since the parties have submitted affidavits in support of their positions, we will treat the 12(b) (6) motion as one for summary judgment.

Plaintiff Bob Davis, a New York resident, is a professional basketball player who achieved some fame while playing college basketball at Weber State University in Ogden, Utah. Defendant Pro Basketball, Inc. is an Oregon corporation which owns and operates the Portland Trail Blazers, a member of the National Basketball Association (NBA).

Plaintiff and defendant entered into a written "no-cut" contract on April 18, 1972 which obligated Davis to play basketball exclusively for the Trail Blazers for a three-year period for $250,000, payable in installments. Under the contract, Pro Basketball must pay plaintiff the $250,000 whether or not he made the Trail Blazers' roster, hence the "no-cut" nature of the contract. The contract is an amended form of the NBA Uniform Player Contract, with an individually negotiated rider attached. The terms of the Uniform Player Contract are negotiated between the NBA and the National Basketball Players' Association (Players' Association), the authorized collective bargaining representative for all NBA players, and the current contract expires June 1, 1975.

Shortly after the parties executed the April 18 agreement, it was discovered that plaintiff suffered from a pre-existing injury to his left knee which required surgery and which, defendant contended, would prevent Davis from playing basketball during the 1972-73 NBA season and, perhaps, during subsequent seasons as well. To resolve this dispute, the parties entered into a "Modification of Agreement" which provided that the Trail Blazers could terminate the agreement with Davis within thirty days of the start of the 1973-74 regular training camp, if "Davis is unable to perform as a player solely as a result of irremediable (exclusive of surgery) injury to Davis' left knee." Otherwise, the contract would remain in full force and effect.

On October 3, 1973, by letter, defendant terminated the contract under the terms of the Modification of Agreement and suspended all payments of money to plaintiff. After some inconclusive communications between the parties, plaintiff brought this action for the $175,000 allegedly still payable on the contract.

At the outset, we are met with defendant's contention that paragraph 21 of the original agreement bars plaintiff from bringing this action in this district. Paragraph 21 provides that an action under the contract must be brought

" in a State or Federal court of competent jurisdiction of the county or district whose territorial jurisdiction includes the home city in which the club is located."

Since the Trail Blazers are located in Portland, Oregon, defendant contends that the District Court for the District of Oregon is the only proper federal venue. Plaintiff argues, however, that the venue clause of paragraph 21 was waived by the parties in the Modification of Agreement. We find it unnecessary to decide the waiver issue because it would unduly delay this action to enforce the venue selection clause.

This is a diversity case involving no question of federal law. We think, therefore, that we "should assume no more and no less jurisdiction than a state court would if the latter were presiding over the same matter." National Equipment Rental, Ltd. v. Reagin, 338 F.2d 759, 762 (2d Cir. 1964). See, Arrowsmith v. UPI, 320 F.2d 219 (2d Cir. 1963). Thus, we must look to the New York rule on venue selection clauses.
*fn1"

Whether we apply the New York or federal rule, we think our discretion is best exercised by refusing to enforce the venue selection provision here. As we will discuss infra, arbitration is appropriate here, and it would be a needless waste of the time and resources both of the parties and the federal judiciary if plaintiff were required to bring this action again in Oregon, only to have that court stay the action pending arbitration. If the action continues ...

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